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Whether you like it or not, keeping your floors clean is a day-to-day chore that must be done. If you don’t clean your floors regularly, you’ll likely see dire results within a week or two.
A carpet sweeper can help you tackle this job. You can use it either as an alternative to or in addition to a vacuum cleaner. The problem is, you'll find many options on the market, and it's not always clear which carpet sweepers perform well and offer a good value for the money.
If you need some assistance in selecting a carpet sweeper that will make your household chores a breeze, you're in the right place. At BestReviews, we’re dedicated to helping you select the perfect products. To create our fair and thorough product guides, we test items in our labs, consult experts, and gather valuable feedback from existing customers. What's more, to remain unbiased, we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Perhaps you're still on the fence about purchasing a carpet sweeper. After all, you probably already own a vacuum cleaner of some type. Here are some of the benefits of owning a carpet sweeper.
A carpet sweeper can pick large debris off the floor that may be too big for a vacuum cleaner to handle.
Manual or cordless electric carpet sweepers can tackle dirt in places where you don't have power outlets, such as a shed or screened-in porch.
Carpet sweepers are perfect for quick cleans in between vacuuming days. Many models don't need to be plugged into a power outlet, so it's a fast and easy process.
Manual carpet sweepers are eco-friendly; they require no electricity to run.
Because carpet sweepers are significantly quieter than vacuum cleaners, they're ideal for use around nervous pets or when the baby's sleeping.
Most carpet sweepers are extremely user-friendly and simple to operate.
There are two main types of carpet sweepers to choose from: manual carpet sweepers and electric carpet sweepers. Below, we examine the pros and cons of each.
Manual carpet sweepers don't run on electricity. Rather, they rely on your physical push power.
Pros:
Because they require no electricity to run, manual carpet sweepers are an extremely eco-friendly cleaning option.
You can use a manual carpet sweeper anywhere, regardless of your access to electricity.
Unlike cordless electric carpet sweepers, manual models don't have a limited run time. There’s no chance of running out of juice.
Cons:
Manual carpet sweepers aren't quite as effective as electric carpet sweepers.
You may have to put of lot of weight behind your manual carpet sweeper in order to get good results.
Price: You can find basic manual carpet sweepers for less than $20. Heavy-duty commercial models may cost over $50.
Electric carpet sweepers have motors that power rotating heads and brushes.
Pros:
Electric carpet sweepers have some extra oomph to their cleaning power, making them a bit more effective than their manual counterparts.
You may find that electric carpet sweepers are better at cleaning up pet hair from deep within the pile.
Compared to manual models, it takes less effort to clean with an electric carpet sweeper.
Cons:
You're limited as to where you can use a corded electric carpet sweeper, and a cordless model could run out of battery power.
Electric carpet sweepers create more noise than manual carpet sweepers.
Price: Electric carpet sweepers are pricier than manual models. Expect to pay between $30 and $100 for a good one.
From the lightweight to the hefty, you can find carpet sweepers of varying weights. The lightest models weigh in at under two pounds, whereas heavier options weigh up to six pounds.
As a rule, manual carpet sweepers are lighter than electric models because they don't have motors weighing them down. However, other factors also affect the weight of a carpet sweeper, including material, brush width, and overall size. If you have trouble lifting heavy objects or you simply want a sweeper that's easy to carry from place to place, opt for the most lightweight sweeper you can find.
Some carpet sweepers have wider brushes, or "sweeping paths,” than others. The most compact options have brush widths of less than eight inches, whereas large models have brush widths exceeding 12 inches.
While carpet sweepers with smaller sweeping paths are easier to maneuver and get into all those nooks and crannies, they're not as quick at sweeping large areas of floor. If you'll mostly be sweeping big, open rooms with few obstacles, a larger brush width is advisable.
Carpet sweepers clean through the use of rotating brushes, also known as blades. These blades are either traditional bristle brushes or are made from rubber.
Bristle brush blades are the most common option and are excellent at going into the pile of a carpet to pull out worked-in hair. They’re also highly suitable for sweeping up larger debris, such as dropped food or clumps of mud.
Rubber blades are better at picking up extremely fine debris, especially from tile or hardwood floor.
Since both blade types have pros and cons, some carpet sweepers use both kinds to reap the benefits of each. For example, a bristle blade may sit at the front of a sweeper to clean up larger debris and hair while a rubber blade goes behind to tackle fine particles of dust and dirt.
If you opt for an electric carpet sweeper, you'll need to decide whether to buy a corded or a cordless model.
Corded carpet sweepers have an unlimited run time, but you need to have access to a power outlet. You also have the hassle of plugging it in, unplugging it, trailing the cord around the house, and coiling the cord up when you're done.
Cordless carpet sweepers don't require a power outlet, so you're free to roam wherever you please. The downside is that they have a limited run time, so you could end up losing power before you have finished sweeping. If you plan to clean larger areas, this could be especially problematic.
Consider the bristle material of the brushes on your chosen carpet sweeper. Many bristles are made from synthetic materials, but "natural bristles" are usually made from animal hair. Vegans, vegetarians, or anyone who avoids using certain animal products for religious reasons may want to steer clear of natural bristles.
Think about the shape of your chosen carpet sweeper. Most models have rectangular sweeping heads, but some are triangular or have angled edges to more easily get into corners.
Q. I have pets at home. Do I need a specific kind of carpet sweeper?
A. Homes that belong to dogs and cats usually require a bit of extra cleaning power, thanks to muddy paws and shedded fur. While you don't need to have a particular kind of carpet sweeper if you have pets at home, note that electric models are more powerful than their manual counterparts, and electrostatic units are effective at picking up hair.
Q. How do carpet sweepers collect dirt?
A. Unlike brooms, carpet sweepers don't simply push dirt around the floor, leaving you with a pile to clear up at the end. Instead, they sweep dirt and debris into a dustpan or collection chamber as they go along. Once you’re finished (or the container is full), you simply empty the debris into the trash.
Q. Are carpet sweepers suitable for all kinds of flooring?
A. Carpet sweepers are suitable for use on a wide range of flooring. Despite the name, you can use them on non-carpeted floors such as hardwood, linoleum, and tile. Although they work well on short-pile carpets, most models don't handle thicker pile very well.
